Italian American Digest DigestSpring2019RevisedFinalDraft | Page 4

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SPRING 2019
Italian American Digest
49th Annual
St. Joseph’s Parade
Hosted by the Italian American St. Joseph Society
2019 Grand Marshal
John M. Viola
John M. Viola has been a strong sponsor of our organization for years. A native of Brooklyn, NY, John traces his ancestry
to the Vallo di Diano in the province of Salerno, Caserta, Avellino, Basilicata, Puglia and Sicily. He and his wife Nicole live in
New York City. John has dedicated himself to developing international and domestic service programs. He co-founded ELITE
Learning of Brooklyn, a non-profit organization dedicated to fundamental reform and improvement of inner-city education.
In 2009, John helped form the Pope John Paul II Family Academy in Brooklyn, NY. From 2012-2018, John served as President
and Chief Operating Officer of the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF). During his tenure at NIAF he created the
Italian American Leadership Council, the NIAF Region of Honor program, and redefined many of NIAF’s long-standing
programs and partnerships with a focus on engaging the next generation of Italian American leaders. He serves on the team
behind the Italian American Experience, the creators of the popular Italian American Podcast, as an initiative designed to bring
young Italian Americans closer to their heritage. John has served as a Parade Marshal in 2016, 2017, and 2018. It is an honor to
have him reign as our 2019 Grand Marshal.
2019 IASJS Queen
Ava Elizabeth Maraldo
Ava Elizabeth Maraldo was born in New Orleans, LA on February 4, 2000 to Danté and Monique Maraldo. She has one
brother, Danté, and one sister, Sophia. Ava’s grandfather, Claude A. Maraldo, is a charter member of our organization, serving
as a board member since its inception. Ava’s father is a past President of our organizaion, and her uncle, David J. Maraldo,
is a board member. Ava’s grandmother, Katherine Russo Maraldo, presided as our 1971 Queen. Ava has participated in our
organization as a Maid since she was four years old. She graduated from Mount Carmel Academy in New Orleans, LA in May
2018 with 4.2 cumulative GPA. She was a four year letterman on the varsity soccer team, winning two state championships. Ava
is now 19 years old and a freshman at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge, LA, majoring in pre-nursing.
2019 IASJS Caeser
Terry Villani
Terry Villani will make his inaugural reign as our Caesar this year. Terry is a native New Orleanian. He has been married
to his childhood sweetheart, Susan, for the past 44 years. Terry has been employed with Entergy for the past 45 years. He
donates a great deal of his time to numerous charities, including Special Olympics and Multiple Sclerosis. Presently, he is
preparing a stained glass relief of St Joseph that he will donate to the St. Joseph’s Altar at St Charles Bormelo Church in
Destrehan, LA. His niece, Berkley, has been a Maid for the past four years and will join us as Maid again this year. Terry is very
proud of his Italian heritage, and we are honored to have him reign as our 2019 Caesar. Hail to Caesar!